Z Smith traded to Browns

Funkytown
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Z Smith traded to Browns May 13, 2023 20:39:34 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by Funkytown on May 13, 2023 20:39:34 GMT -6

May 13, 2023 19:55:37 GMT -6 MidwinterViking said:

However, here is a silver lining: if the Vikings really did need another $6-10M to make their 2023 cap work, who would you rather keep: Z or Cook? The main argument people have for trading Cook is "they need the cap space", well, now that's not true.

Believe me. My mind went there, but it seems all the signs point to him being gone.

Like I said, I know it's all part of it. But I, personally, can stomach moves made earlier on in the offseason a bit more. The new schedule is out. I'm getting excited about the season! That's what I care most about. This season.

Declining, overpaid, or whatever, but teams absolutely still had to plan for Cook and Z. They made our team better. Who is even giving Mattison and company a second glance? No one. What about our pass rushers outside of Hunter? These two made it that much tougher on opponents. I don't take that lightly.

Would've loved to see how good our offense could've been in year two ... with Cook. Also would've liked to see what Flores could've done with Hunter, Z, H. Smith, Davenport, and all the youngens. As I said, I get why it's happening. I'm just saying it sucks a bit for this season. And I'll worry about next season in February and not a second sooner.

Last Edit: May 13, 2023 20:41:56 GMT -6 by Funkytown

legendsofthenorth Ring of Honor Enter your message here... Posts: 5,723 Likes: 3,265	Z Smith traded to Browns May 13, 2023 20:41:53 GMT -6 via mobile NoresemanSam, lostdonkey, and 3 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by legendsofthenorth on May 13, 2023 20:41:53 GMT -6 I don't think the Vikings will regret this trade

SiteWolf
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Z Smith traded to Browns May 13, 2023 20:42:53 GMT -6 vikingpwr likes this

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Post by SiteWolf on May 13, 2023 20:42:53 GMT -6

May 13, 2023 19:35:32 GMT -6 kirko8 said:

1. He is only getting 11 million-ish from CLE we couldn't match that. What a sweetheart deal for CLE 11-ish million for Z and then he is free to go. We couldn't do that deal. This reminds me of Duke Shelley.

2. The two 5s are good but then to give up a 6 and 7 other GMs are using Kwesi like a Rented Mule DET and GB both took his pants 2 years ago.

3. Now I hear WE are PAYING partially for him to play for CLE WTF that is beyond ridiculous. WE ARE PAYING CLE TO PLAY HIM WTF?

4. It doesn't matter if he didn't want to play Kwesi DID HAVE LEVERAGE if he wanted to sit out let him sit out and PAY HUGE FINES... what terrible TERRIBLE trade for Kwesi...

5. This sets a terrible precedent for the future when a player is not happy we just trade him WTF did you see what BUF did when Diggs tried to get traded? They ignored him lol that is what Kwesi should have done with Z.

He really has no clue as to what he is doing.

We didn't have to match anything, he was under contract with us. He signed a deal last year he regretted, had little guaranteed this year...and that's what he wanted, the Vikings didn't. People underrate the value of gaining cap space, at this point, so it's available for someone else (currently on the team or not)

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 13, 2023 20:55:38 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by Funkytown on May 13, 2023 20:55:38 GMT -6

May 13, 2023 18:18:06 GMT -6 whoskmoon said:

There has been a lot of talk about Smith falling off after week 9, 23 pressures, 1 sack from week 10 on. However, the combined pressures and sacks of the three guys who are set to replace him over that time was 24 pressures and 3 sacks in over 120 pass rush snaps. On top of that, most of those pressures and sacks came on stunts that were only successful because Smith was drawing so much attention.

Yeah, it sucked he was no longer getting home, but he was still making an impact.

Some sites differ, but you'll get the idea:

Smith last year: 10 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 24 QB hits.

From an article from 12/8:

Even when he doesn’t get the sack, Smith has been living in the opponent’s backfield. According to PFF, he is leading the NFL with 63 pressures on the season, one ahead of Defensive Player of the Year candidate Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers. Six other players have recorded at least 50 pressures this season as Micah Parsons, Brian Burns, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Mathew Judon and Chris Jones round out the list.

In addition to the sacks and pressures, Smith has picked up 15 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits. He is making plays for the Vikings regularly as one of the best free-agent acquisitions of the 2022 offseason.

Later in December:

The Vikings are 12-3 and already champions of the NFC North. Za’Darius, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with Minnesota in March, ranks second in the NFL in pressures (78), first in hurries (53) and 14th in sacks (10). Absent from the statistical production is the simple truth that he changes the opposition’s game plan each week, which is part of the reason why he has already been named to the Pro Bowl.

Smith generated 78 pressures on 495 pass rush snaps in 2022 according to PFF. That's a rate of 15.7 percent.

vikergirl
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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 6:25:37 GMT -6 via mobile James, NoresemanSam, and 2 more like this

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Post by vikergirl on May 14, 2023 6:25:37 GMT -6

He wanted to move on. He was injured and disappeared during the season. He is going to be 31. They got something out of it. I wasn't expecting much. He didn't want to be here. Certainly couldn't afford him. Time to move on

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 7:30:08 GMT -6 legendsofthenorth likes this

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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2023 7:30:08 GMT -6

May 12, 2023 21:48:59 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

May 12, 2023 21:27:21 GMT -6 @aussie61 said:

I haven't seen anything that the Vikings are paying any of his salary.
My understanding is that Cleveland worked out a new deal with Smith which was the key to facilitate the trade.
Spotrac is showing the Vikings have incurred $3,333,334 dead cap and $12M savings from doing the deal and that gels with the contract Smith had with the Vikings.

The Browns also reworked Smith’s contract, giving him $11.75 million guaranteed for 2023 -- but they aren’t paying the full amount, a league source told cleveland.com.

I'm not buying Cabots version of the story that the Vikings are paying part of the salary. Her theory seems to be based around the fact that Cleveland only has $7.2M in cap space and can't afford the $11.75M Smith is being paid.
However, earlier this year, the Browns released John Johnson and Jadeveon Clowney designating both as June 1st cuts, and in a couple of weeks $11M of salary cap space hits their books which will give them $18.2M and that's plenty to cover the deal.

ratsalad Franchise Player Posts: 3,069 Likes: 1,529	Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 7:37:59 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ratsalad on May 14, 2023 7:37:59 GMT -6 Do you guys remember 2011'a defense? I'm pretty sure this year is going to be worse

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 7:43:04 GMT -6 via mobile PurpleFloyd likes this

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Post by comet52 on May 14, 2023 7:43:04 GMT -6

May 13, 2023 10:40:08 GMT -6 Reignman said:

May 12, 2023 17:58:40 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Blah.

Our D just got a lot worse.

Only for half a season. *whistle*

Wait, we just signed former first rounder Davenport for pennies on the dollar to replace him didn't we? One of these "value" signings by Kwesi have to work out for us eventually right? *shrug*

Maybe Kwesi should "value sign" Kyle Sloter. *whistle*

I'm here for entertainment purposes only

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 9:11:06 GMT -6 Funkytown likes this

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Post by whoskmoon on May 14, 2023 9:11:06 GMT -6

Smith was by far Kwesi's best addition to the team so far and now he is gone.

The Vikings are losing significant talent to age and free agency and aren't replacing it at the same rate and it wasn't a championship caliber team to begin with. How do the Vikes become a championship team when they can't even maintain the talent required to win a single playoff game? What is the plan?

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 9:31:12 GMT -6 via mobile vikingpwr and legendsofthenorth like this

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Post by PurpleFloyd on May 14, 2023 9:31:12 GMT -6

May 14, 2023 9:11:06 GMT -6 whoskmoon said:

Smith was by far Kwesi's best addition to the team so far and now he is gone.

The Vikings are losing significant talent to age and free agency and aren't replacing it at the same rate and it wasn't a championship caliber team to begin with. How do the Vikes become a championship team when they can't even maintain the talent required to win a single playoff game? What is the plan?

Maybe he is building a roster fans have been asking for where we can have multiple shots at the top pick in the draft

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 9:50:55 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by Funkytown on May 14, 2023 9:50:55 GMT -6

A couple of days ago, the Minnesota Vikings fulfilled Za’Darius Smith’s wishes to play elsewhere, sending him to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for pick upgrades in 2024 and 2025. According to reports that have surfaced since then, the Vikings had multiple offers for Smith’s services.

According to our friends over at Dawgs By Nature, there were three teams that were vying for Smith’s services. In the end, it sounded like Smith chose Cleveland over the other two teams (neither of whom have been named), paving the way for the deal that we saw announced on Friday.

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 9:52:26 GMT -6

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Post by whoskmoon on May 14, 2023 9:52:26 GMT -6

May 14, 2023 9:31:12 GMT -6 PurpleFloyd said:

May 14, 2023 9:11:06 GMT -6 whoskmoon said:

Smith was by far Kwesi's best addition to the team so far and now he is gone.

The Vikings are losing significant talent to age and free agency and aren't replacing it at the same rate and it wasn't a championship caliber team to begin with. How do the Vikes become a championship team when they can't even maintain the talent required to win a single playoff game? What is the plan?

Maybe he is building a roster fans have been asking for where we can have multiple shots at the top pick in the draft

Bottoming out would at least be a strategy has worked in the past. This isn't that, this is clinging to mediocrity.

PurpleFloyd
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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 9:55:17 GMT -6 via mobile vikingpwr likes this

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Post by PurpleFloyd on May 14, 2023 9:55:17 GMT -6

May 14, 2023 9:52:26 GMT -6 whoskmoon said:

May 14, 2023 9:31:12 GMT -6 PurpleFloyd said:

Maybe he is building a roster fans have been asking for where we can have multiple shots at the top pick in the draft

Bottoming out would at least be a strategy has worked in the past. This isn't that, this is clinging to mediocrity.

When has it worked for us in the past? I must have missed it

mngopher35
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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 10:45:45 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by mngopher35 on May 14, 2023 10:45:45 GMT -6

We didn’t get much value out of it but at least we seem to be continuing to prioritize the future. If we continue this approach we can hopefully reset the cap and have a much younger core of players ready to compete in 2025.

We have moved on from a lot of the aging vets already. Cook might be the next one to go. Smith and hicks are still here but it took a pay cut, very possible it’s their last season here. Cousins contract was handled in a way that combined with the other moves signals it’s the last year for him as well.

It would have been nice to get a little more value for moving on but I don’t blame the new regime given what the owners pushed before they made the hires. At least they seem to understand what many fans have been saying for a while and have shifted their approach to more of a rebuild.

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Z Smith traded to Browns May 14, 2023 13:01:04 GMT -6

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Post by whoskmoon on May 14, 2023 13:01:04 GMT -6

May 14, 2023 9:55:17 GMT -6 PurpleFloyd said:

May 14, 2023 9:52:26 GMT -6 whoskmoon said:

Bottoming out would at least be a strategy has worked in the past. This isn't that, this is clinging to mediocrity.

When has it worked for us in the past? I must have missed it

Nothing has worked for the Vikings in the past, I am surprised you don't know that. Other teams have bottomed out and had success though and that is what I was referring to obviously.